THE GROWTH OF THE AIRPLANE
AS A WEAPON OF WAR
by
LEONARD E. EISENBERG
MAY 24, 1944
SUMMARY
This thesis deals primarily with the use
of the airplane as a weapon of war. It starts with
the invention and goes on from its first appearance
in a war to its present day might. Mingled throughout
its growth are my own ideas and opinions on disputes
which have arisen about the potentialities of the airplane
and on its effects on the human mind.
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THE GROWTH OF THE AIRPLANE
AS A WEAPON OE WAR
Back in 1903 two brothers, Wilbur and Orville
Wright, Concluded experiments on their new invention. It
was the airplane. Hardly could they then realize the po -
tentialities of their creative genius. The thought that
it would bring the world closer together or that it would
bring death and misery to millions never entered their
minds ,
As a weapon of wa», the airplane made its first
showing in World War I, Then, the airplane had not yet
reached the technical perfection which it was due to
achieve several decades later, and its possibilities as
an important offensive weapon were not yet seen. However,
it was soon to emerge the most effective weapon in the world.
For a long time after the close of the war,
the potential power of the airplane was disputed in
military and political circles. The question was: " Could
precision aerial bombing be effective in reducing the
military strength of an enemy to a point where it would
decide the result of a war? " One school of thought
maintained that while the airplane could undeniably prove
valuable as a supplementary weapon, it could never become
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tiie deciding factor. At the same time, the so-called
experts claimed that only large concentrations of men,
ships, and fire power could bring the final victory. On
the other hand, we have those who thought as the late
Billy Mitchell did, that the airplane would in time be-
come the greatest single factor in deciding the outcome
of a war. If this line of thought had been fostered then,
we would have been able to meet the enemy on an equal
footing from the beginning.
Then came the fall of *39. The airplane made
its real debut. As the Luftwaffe winged its deadly way
over Poland, a new phase of terrorism and destruction
was initiated. It was no longer a haphazard undertaking
with doubtful results as in 1917, but a carefully planned,
skillfully executed method of destruction. The effects
of the bombing raids were not only in physical form, but
mental as well. The ominous drone of the approaching
planes brought terror into the hearts of those who were
about to face them. A feeling of helplessness arose within
them, .what could they do against so powerful and deadly
a mechanism. Although we know they are ours, even we in
the United States get a cold chill when a suadron of
planes rumble overhead. The results of this debut were
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so devastating that the invincibility of Goering's air
arraade became a legend which terrorised Holland, iieigium,
Norway, and France. It was then that the effectiveness
of the airplane was fully realised.
Twice in the present conflict, this lack of
foresight into the might of the airplane has almost
brought defeat to the Allies. First, it was on the beach
of Dunkirk, where the British and French Expeditionary
Forces were miraculously evacuated under constant attack
from the Nazi Air Force, The second onslaught was the
historic battle of London.
We too in the United States soon felt the weight
of enemy air power, when the Japs made their treacherous
attack on Pearl Harbor, Wake, and kidway.
However, the tide has now changed, we have taken
over the war in the air. Everyday we read in the newspapers
of the waves and waves of Allied bombers that are shuttling
back and fdrth over Germany, Italy, and France. The news-
reels in the movies show us how air power has levelled
Tarawe and reduced Cassino to mere shambles.
Now , with the thoughts of invasion looming
in the near future, the airplane will take an even greater
role. It is rather obvious to see that the Germans have
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been building a wall of steel on the French coast for the
last few years , and it even more obvious that only tons
tons of high explosives dropped from the air will melt
it down. It will be a tough nut to crack, and the airplane
is capable of doing it. However, only time will tell.
BIBLIOGRAPHY"
The information used in this thesis was
obtained through daily contact with newspapers and
radio,, and enlarged upon by my own ideas and opinions.